Chris/Barry POV
"Where did Speyer say he was?" Barry asked Chris as they walked through the Birdcage room heading towards the main hall of the mansion.
"Second-floor east terrace. But I have no idea where that is."
"We'll figure it out, Chris. At least we have a direction."
"I guess. But something about this place bothers me. That bag we found in the last room—three Beretta mags, two food rations, a small medical pack, even a map of the first floor. It feels like someone's playing a game with us. Giving us just enough to keep going. I don't know… maybe I'm losing it." Chris said as he looked disturbed by the strange discovery.
Meanwhile Barry started to look more and more uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. "Chris…" Barry hesitated.
"What is it Barry? What's wrong?"
"I…ah…I think you need to talk to Wesker when he gets back." Barry said trying to ride a fine line. He wanted to tell Chris everything, but he was still worried about his family and their safety.
"You know something, don't you? That's why you have been on Wesker's ass this whole time."
With that Barry visibly shrank back and looked away from Chris. "I'm sorry Chris but it's not for me to say."
Anger flared in Chris — then it faded into a sigh. "Damn it, Barry." And said with resignation. "Fine. I'll ask Wesker. I think we're all owed some answers."
"Thanks Chris." Barry let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, and the two started moving again.
< Entering the long corridor attached to the dining hall >
Chris opened the door to horrifying sight. Three humanoids with lean bodies pulled tight like sinew, skin flushed a raw, blood-dark red tearing apart what was Kenneth's corpse. Bits of flesh and blood spattering everywhere as if a pack of hyenas were devouring a gazelle.
Chris and Barry raised their weapons and fired center mass like they were trained.
Nothing…
The crimson monsters let out a shriek and rushed the two.
"Head! Head!" Chris shouted.
They adjusted instantly.
Barry stepped left to avoid being flanked, boots sliding slightly on blood-slick marble. Chris dropped to one knee for stability and fired at the nearest creature's face.
The first shot hit cheekbone.
The second shattered teeth.
The third punched through the eye socket.
The creature didn't fall — it stumbled — then launched itself forward anyway.
"Jesus Christ!"
Barry's magnum roared. The hallway detonated with the sound. The heavy round struck the charging Crimson Head in the skull. This time it dropped — skull splitting, body twitching violently on the ground.
Two left.
The second vaulted over Kenneth's torn body with terrifying speed, claws scraping sparks off the wall as it pushed off sideways — not running straight, zig-zagging.
"They're learning!" Barry barked.
Chris backpedaled. Controlled breathing. Front sight. Don't panic.
He fired.
Miss.
Fired again.
Hit the shoulder.
The creature didn't slow.
Barry grabbed the back of Chris's vest and yanked him sideways just as claws raked through the air where Chris's throat had been.
They separated instinctively — no crossfire.
The third Crimson had gone low.
Barry saw it too late.
It lunged for his legs.
Barry pivoted, slamming his boot down onto its head as it slid across the floor. Its claws snapped shut inches from his calf.
He fired downward.
The first round cracked its jaw.
The second entered through the temple.
It spasmed, shrieking, clawing at nothing.
Chris was already engaging the second.
It hit him — full force — knocking him back into the wall. The impact rattled his teeth. The creature's breath was hot and wet in his face, blackened teeth snapping inches from his eyes.
Chris jammed the muzzle of his pistol under its chin and pulled the trigger.
Once.
Twice.
The third shot blew through the roof of its mouth.
Blood sprayed across the ceiling.
The creature convulsed violently before collapsing on top of him.
"Chris!"
"I'm good!"
He shoved the body off and rolled to his feet.
The first Crimson — the one Barry had dropped — was twitching.
Not dead.
"Finish it!"
Barry stepped forward and put one final round into its skull.
Silence.
Except for ragged breathing.
Three bodies lay sprawled across the corridor, blood pooling and slowly spreading toward Kenneth's remains.
Chris checked his magazine.
"Half," he muttered.
Barry opened his cylinder, counting.
"Same."
They locked eyes.
That was three.
In a hallway.
Without warning.
Chris looked down at Kenneth's remains.
"They're getting faster," he said quietly.
Barry nodded.
"We can't afford another hallway like that."
"We won't."
Somewhere deeper in the mansion—
Another distant shriek echoed.
Not close.
But not far enough.
< Few minutes ago, MC/Rebecca POV >
"How are you holding up?" Rebecca asked looking back at Wesker. He looked drained but his expression was pure focus, a man on a mission. He reminded Rebecca of Billy Coen, the escaped marine that helped her survive the Umbrella managed training facility. Here she was trusting another rogue and taking a chance.
"Managing." He said through gritted teeth.
Looking down the bandage was soaking red and Wesker had his left hand on the wound while holding his combat knife in the other.
"Here, take this." Rebecca handed him one of her spare Beretta magazines.
"No! You need –
Rebecca cut him off, "You're no help to me or Jill like this. Just take it."
"Thanks." came an exhausted voice from Wesker. He then replaced the empty mag in his custom Samurai Edge handgun and put in the fresh mag.
Rebecca smiled and said, "that's more like it."
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Distant gunfire echoed through the mansion.
They locked eyes — and ran.
< Chris/Barry POV >
Both were now moving with far more caution than before. The rest of the corridor was empty. Opening the door to the dining room they both looked at each other with growing unease. The near dozen bodies they had previously fought and killed were gone. Slowly they made their way through the dining room and managed to get to the main hall without any incidents.
"Where the hell did those bodies go?" Barry asked after they entered the main hall.
"Every time we figure something out, this place changes the rules." Chris said with furrowed brows.
They moved up the staircase to the second floor of the main hall's east side, where two doors waited. One looked like it was kicked inwards with force. It led to an L shaped corridor. The second door was metallic and let outside to an outdoor terrace.
"Guess we found it." Chris said as they closed the door behind.
< Few seconds later >
MC/Rebecca POV
Wesker and Rebecca ran out of the L shaped corridor passing through the door Wesker had kicked inwards.
As they were running Wesker guided Rebecca down the staircase and into the dining room, where he also looked surprised at the missing corpses.
Slowing down Rebecca looked back and asked, "what is it?"
"When we first got here this room was full of zombies, the slow ones. It took us some effort, but we managed to neutralize them but the bodies… they're gone!" after saying that Wesker shook his head and said, "We'll figure it out later, we're close to where the shots were coming from. Let's go"
Rebecca didn't argue and followed Wesker through the door into a long corridor that looked something out of a horror movie. Then she saw Kenneth.
Rebecca gasped. "No… Kenneth. God…" she looked horrified seeing Kenneth's body half eaten with his organs and intestines scattered all over the walls.
Wesker stepped in front of her blocking her view of the gruesome scene. "Rebecca… I'm sorry. We have to move." his voice a whisper. Then he gently grabbed her hand and led her out of the corridor into the Birdcage room.
Rebecca leaned against a wall and slid down with her head in her hands.
Wesker gave Rebecca some space and looked around and saw the signs of the fight they heard. Three dead crimson heads, a dozen bullet casings on the ground, some were small caliber casings, and some were larger. There were two of them, Chris and Barry. It had to be.
"Damn it," Wesker muttered through gritted teeth. "I told them to stay with Jill. What the hell are they thinking?"
Walking back to Rebecca, Wesker knelt down which sent a jolt of white-hot pain through his whole body. He took a moment and gently held Rebecca's shoulder.
"I know, we have to go." Rebecca said barely holding back her sobs. Then she wiped her face and got up.
Wesker also tried to get up but then immediately went back down.
Rebecca helped him back to his feet. The movement causing more blood to seep through the bandages.
"Your wound is getting worse. Let me –
She said seeing blood starting to drip from the bandages.
"No."
The word came out sharper than he intended.
"Sorry. I'm fine. Jill doesn't have much time."
They started moving again.
Rebecca stayed close this time, steadying him without the earlier hesitation.
Maybe… just maybe… she really could trust him after all.
*********
[Author] PS this was a short chapter so I will post an additional chapter but chapters will start to get longer as we go.
* Also if you want bonus chapters let me know and I will try my best. Thank you all again for readying. *